Explicit cultures are societies or communities where norms, expectations, and boundaries are openly stated, codified, and verbalised.
People say what they mean, rules are formalised, and behaviour is guided by clear communication and direct feedback.
• Examples:
• The Netherlands or Germany, where directness and rule clarity are social virtues.
• Corporate HR cultures that publish detailed codes of conduct.
• Online spaces with explicit moderation rules.
• Social justice movements that clearly articulate language norms and expectations (“here’s what’s okay to say and why”).
• Implicit cultures are societies where norms are understood but rarely spoken aloud.
Behaviour is guided by shared context, subtle cues, and unspoken social agreements.
• Examples:
• Japan or Britain, where indirectness, politeness, and reading the air (“kuuki o yomu”) are prized.
• Old institutions (academia, diplomacy, family systems) where one must “just know” the etiquette.
• Social scenes where belonging depends on reading subtle cues rather than explicit inclusion criteria.